Amplifying local voices through community partnerships in Croydon

This programme aims to build local community partnership working to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in each of Croydon’s six localities.

Now in its second year of delivery, the Healthy Communities Together programme is going from strength to strength as it harnesses the skills of local people to create preventative health and social care services for residents.

Building on the work established by Croydon’s voluntary and community groups and by harnessing their skills and local expertise, communities have been empowered to take an active role in their neighbourhood to develop solutions to meet some of the wellbeing needs in their area.

Understanding the importance of a need to transition towards a proactive and preventative care model and build on the strengths of local people, a Local Community Partnership (LCP) has been created in each locality to bring greater local ownership, a collective voice and leadership that is representative of the local area.

Seeing residents as assets with rich, local knowledge and inspirational creativity, residents attend locality-based meetings along with community groups, local charities and health and social care teams to co-develop practical action plans to address each locality’s health inequalities through locally coordinated activities and services.

These open forums provide the opportunity for residents, community groups, local charities and health and social care teams to co-produce community action plans and work collaborative to put these into action. Since launch, the programme of LCP events has created an inclusive space to develop community connections, share knowledge and identify key themes to address collectively.

Community Builders like Ben, help to nurture these community led discussions and gather local insight so those on the margins of communities are heard and included within each locality’s community plan. In this video, Ben shares how his job supports the community to collaboratively improve their health and wellbeing.  

“I help communities across Croydon come together and connect with community organisations to become part of something larger.”

Ben, Community Builder

Dartnell Park is a wonderful example of local neighbours joining together to transform their area through a community plan. Last year a group of residents joined forces to transform an unused piece of land into a community oasis for locals to enjoy.

In this video, local resident Andrea shares how the group worked together to raise funds to develop the space and negotiate with the council to take responsibility of the park.

Understanding the need to also provide local and accessible pathways to social and care support networks, four community hubs have been opened across Croydon to allow residents to access wrap around support including connection to local activities.

Croydon Voluntary Action and Asian Resource Centre Croydon’s Community Facilitators are working with groups across the borough to host Community Hubs including: New Addington Pathfinders, Family Centre Fieldway, Age UK Croydon (Brigstock Road) and His Grace Outreach.

Brigstock Road Community Hub is one of four hubs set up to give residents access to specialist voluntary and statutory services to enable them to lead independent lives. With weekly walk-in sessions the hub hosts voluntary, health and social care services to address practical day-to day needs such as housing, pensions, mental health, carers support, welfare benefits, health and wellbeing.

There’s no need for appointments, residents can simply come along for a chat to see how services can help- or just for some company. Over time, Community Hubs will be set up in each locality so that communities have designated hubs to serve their local needs.

Visit Croydon Voluntary Action to read more about Local Community Partnerships